IATA calls for post-Covid training of aviation workers July 12, 2021 Training to “right-skill” aviation workforce is essential before the restart in air travel after the Covid-19 pandemic triggered sweeping layoffs in the industry, said the International Air Transport Association (IATA). As furloughed staff members rejoin the workforce and new hires are appointed, airlines need to train their employees on all safety aspects before the recovery in air travel demand, given the highly regulated nature of the industry, Frederic Leger, Interim Senior Vice President of Commercial Products and Services at IATA, said during an online press event. Right-skilling existing workers and ensuring that new hires from outside aviation can quickly acquire the necessary skills will be key to successfully building the post-pandemic workforce, IATA said, citing a global survey of some 800 human resources (HR) managers in the aviation industry. Before the pandemic, IATA offered training courses to 100,000 aviation professionals annually.